Week 1: Two Cultures

The main idea that C.P. Snow stresses in his articles is the strong segregation between the two main cultures, literary and scientific individuals. Neither culture has greater value than the other and although there are currently two notable cultures, today’s society is in the works of establishing a third one. As the years go by, crossovers between the two cultures are becoming more and more common, which essentially is the “bridge” to creating a new culture.

Illustration of two intellectual cultures

https://www.google.com/search?q=literary+and+scientific+individuals&espv=2&biw=1056&bih=713&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJu7Wbr8fNAhVD1GMKHVcoBeEQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=two+intellectual+cultures&imgrc=6osMMtZ6KJYZVM%3A

C.P. Snow states that “the curricula of schools and universities as the source of the problem [for separation between the two cultures].” This statement is very much apparent in the UCLA campus, as we are divided into the North and South campus. These campuses are divided based on the majors and classes that you take.  

Map of UCLA divided by North and South Campus 

https://www.google.com/search?https://www.google.com/search?q=ucla+north+and+south+campus&espv=2&biw=1056&bih=708&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixzPH8sMfNAhVK8mMKHXhiAqMQ_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&tbs=rimg%3ACW05bbZugljrIjhqlmdJ46PcKlEfhdgTsnx0YqCtTce1rsUI6-yyOPlUcdnkxq2SToxczEwisP_17l6It4xDq_1mxvFyoSCWqWZ0njo9wqEd6Au9-LfmB1KhIJUR-F2BOyfHQRSg5cXT9LzI0qEglioK1Nx7WuxRG_1UHuGC0FHnyoSCQjr7LI4-VRxEbKpckwH77XhKhIJ2eTGrZJOjFwRts3cNDAshJQqEgnMTCKw_1_1uXohEAzsmLw44wmCoSCS3jEOr-bG8XEYUqfBAD4Aza&q=ucla%20north%20and%20south%20campus&imgrc=bTlttm6CWOs35M%3A

This added perspectives changes the way I view things, especially in the movie Finding Dory. In a specific scene of the movie, there is an octopus that uses its camouflage to blend in with its surrounding. On first sight, I was impressed with the artwork and would give credit to the artist who created the piece. However, now after reading C.P. Snow’s work, I have a greater appreciation for the technology that was utilized to develop the octopus character. I read more into the development of the octopus and found that it was actually impossible to create him due to the lack of technology. With projects like the octopus that require technological advancement to create art, the advancement towards the third culture will gradually build.

How Pixar Created It's Most Complex Character 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn0S2vmSCU0

Sources

Bohm, D. "On Creativity." JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 June 2016. 

"Hank The Octopus In 'Finding Dory' Is So Complex, One Scene Took Two Years to Animate." Digg. N.p. n.d. Web 26 June 2016.  http://digg.com/video/hank-squid-pixar-finding-dory-how

Snow, C. P. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. New York: Cambridge UP, 1959. Print.

Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture: Being In Between." Leonardo. 34 (2001): 121-125. Web. 26 June 2016.  <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/484297/files/36683755/download?wrap=1> 

Wilson, Stephen D. “Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology.” College Art Association Meetings. New York, New York, 2000. Print.